Machine for punching checks



11 Model.) 2 Sheets-.- Sheet 2.

J. N. WILLIAMS. MACHINE FOR PUNCHINC CHECKS.

No. 511,313. Paiaen-ted'Dec;19 .1893'}v 31:? III NiTnD STATES PATENTFFICE.

JOHN N. IVILLIAMS, OF BROOKLYN, NElV YORK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 511,313, dated December19, 1893.

Application filed July 22, 1892. Renewed November 27, 1893. Serial No.492,156. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN N. WILLIAMS, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county ofKings and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Machines forPunching Checks, of which the following is aspecification. A My invention is an improvement in means 101' punchingcharacters representing value, on bank-checks, drafts, promissory notes,and otherlike documents, and relates particularly to thosecheck-punching machines in which the punching-mechanism is adjusted tothe document, the latter remaining at rest. For use with sums of morethan one digit, there is the customary provision for shifting the sheetautomatically one character-distance backward at each recoil of thepunch.

In the accompanying drawings; Figure I is a top View of a machineembodying my improvements. Fig. II is a vertical section on the lineIIII. Fig. III is a front elevation. Fig. IV is a horizontal section onthe line IV--IV. Fig.V is a front view of the finger lever guide,detached.

1 is a main frame, which may be of cast iron. Horizontal plates, oneplate 2 near the bottom and the other plate 3 at or near the top of theframe, afford bearings for a vertical pivot 4 whose part above the plate3 has an expansion or head 5 and whose part below plate 2 has ascrew-nut and washer 6 Where by it may be securely fastened to theframe.

7isahorizontallyswingingarm pivoted at 7 in the frame and havingVertically hinged thereto at 8 midway across the frame thelever 8 whosefree end has a knob or handle 9 by which said lever with arm 7 may beshifted to right or left in a horizontal are about the pivot 7 or saidlever may be vibrated in a vertical are about the fulcrum 8. The lever Shas a downward projection or tongue 10.

The plate 3 is inscribed (in an arcuate group concentric with the pivot4) with an index 3 made up of characters identical with those on thepunches but reversely arranged. Goncentric with this index is a rack 11whose notches 11 serve to guide and retain the lever 8 accurately to anyselected position.

Loosely journaled upon the pivot 4 is a hub or sleeve 12 which carries avibratable punch pivotal support.

or horizontally swinging frame 13 which has, at its lowest part, anarcuate group of dies 14 which correspond to a group of punches 15 thatoccupy sockets 16 inthe upper part of said swinging frame. Each punch isnormally retracted by means of a suitable spring 17.

The tines of a finger lever guide or fork 18 on the swinging frameembrace the lever 8 and thus compel the said frame to share thehorizontal oscillations of said lever. The fork is open at top to allowthe lever to be folded back against the arm onthe top ofthe machine whendesired, and may be swiveled in the punch-supporting frame to permit thelever to move freely.

20 is a punch-depressin g plate or yoke which is hinged at 21 to theupper plate 3 and has its front portion upheld by springs 22. Saidportion has the form of a circular arc of the same radial distance frompivot 4 as the tongue 10. Extending forward from the midlength of thisarcuate portion 20 is a finger 20 whose free extremity being over thegroup of punches, any depression of said plate operates to depresswhatever punch happens to be brought in alignment with said finger.

23 may represent a customary paper holder or spring clip for holding thedocument to be operated on. y

24 may represent a customary attachment whereby recoil of the depressingmechanism operates to shift the document the proper dis tance rearwardfor the next punching action.

By pivoting the combined lever arm 7, 8 at the point 7, to the rear ofthe pivot 4 of the punch mechanism, a greater sidewise movement isimparted to the punch-mechanism with a slight shifting of lever arm 7, 8than is possible where both have the same Furthermore, the arranging ofthe vertical pivot 8 forward of the horizontal pivots 4 and 7 and midwayacross the main frame brings the fulcruming point 8 so much nearer thepoint of work (11. a, the point of impact of projection 10 on yoke orplate 20) as to materially increase the leverage.

Having thus described my invention, the following is what I claim as newtherein and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a check punching machine, the combination of the stationary frame,a punch and die carrying frame pivoted thereon so as to swinghorizontally and having its punches forward of its pivot, a p11 nchdepressing plate pivoted so as to vibrate vertically and a doublypivoted handle or lever projecting forward over and operating said punchdepressing plate for shifting said punch and die carrying frame, pivotedon the stationary frame independently of the punch and die carryingframe, and of the punch depressing plate, and a connection between thelever and the punch and die carrying frame, the said connection beingforward of the pivot 0f the lever on the stationary frame, substantiallyas set forth.

2. The combination, with the main frame, the vertical main pivot, thehorizontal swinging frame hinged to the main pivot, having an upper partprovided with punch'sockets, and a lower partprovided with a group ofdies corresponding to the position of the punch-sockets, spring-punchesworking in the punch-sockets, and the spring punch-depressing plate; ofthe arm 7 pivoted on said main frame in rear of main pivot was to becapable of horizontal movement, and the le- Ver 8 pivoted on said arm soas to be capable of vertical movement; and connected to said swingingframe, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with the main frame,

the vertical main pivot, the horizontal swinging frame hinged to themain pivot, having an upper part provided with punclrsockets, and alower part provided with a group of dies corresponding to the positionof the punch-sockets, spring-punches working in the punch-sockets, andthe spring punch-depressing plate; of the guide 18 on the swingingframe, the arm 7 having capacity for horizontal vibration over said mainpivot, and the lever 8 embraced by said guide and having capacityforvertical vibration about a fulcrum located midway across the mainframe on the arm; substantially as described.

4. The combination of the main frame 1 having lower plate 2 and upperplate 3, Vertical main pivot at having bearings in the plates, the hubor sleeve 12 having a swinging frame 13, provided at its lower part witha group of dies 14, and at its upper part with a group of punches 15,the punch-depressing plate, the horizontally swinging arm 7 pivoted tothe rear of the main pivot, and the vertically swinging lever S hingedto the arm, and the lever'guide 18 secured to the swinging frame;substantially as described.

J. N. WILLIAMS.

Witnesses:

HARRY E. KNIGHT, I. V. BIDGOOD.

